Dear Mr. President...you lost me at....

[peace13]

"We are a nation built on the rule of law" I heard you speak these words last night and my mind went racing to remember when these words were last true. Certainly not when George Bush and Dick Cheney went skipping off the stage. Not when the bankers went free or the illegal wars were started on a pack of lies. And not as we live in cities and villages with militarized police departments.

No, I can't remember when last there was a rule of law for all. The division is clear and I am sorry that those words were the best that you could do last night.

I am sure that it hurt to say them. At some point you just have to stop talking. But you figured that out after the first rambling answer. The scene was heart breaking.

[hobbit709]

1. the law is only for those that can buy it.

[joeybee12]

2. +1

The cost is too high for most of us peons.

[KingCharlemagne]

5. There are actually two sets of laws: one for the well-to-do and the

"Law of the Jungle" for the rest of us.

[valerief]

13. Laws are written to protect those who can buy laws. nt

[SoLeftIAmRight]

19. If you have been in a civil case

you find out quickly just how true those words are.

[sylvanus]

30. Exactly, like this douche.

Ethan Couch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Couch

[samsingh]

3. there is only a law for the rich or the truly evil

[Octafish]

4. Well said, peace13.

Like taxes, laws are for the little people in the United States of America today.

[merrily]

6. The only use the PTB have for the rule of law is to keep us in line.

They always have an excuse why the law doesn't apply to their actions.

[noiretextatique]

7. it is a charade...and a lie

it was never true, and it is not true now.

[iandhr]

8. What the **** did you expect him to say?

[nc4bo]

10. Come right out and say the truth.....stats are on his side.

Reminds me of a man or woman referring to the person they have an affair with as "them" or "some people" rather than that woman or that man I'm cheating on you with.

We have a race problem in this country. We have a police violence problem in this country. We have an inequality problem in this country and we all need to be honest with ourselves and admit it. How about we work together to eliminate these problems.

All of this despite that the fact that a black man was ELECTED POTUS.

The few are making life miserable for the many.

[heaven05]

14. a lot can't/won't

admit to what you wrote because it threatens their perceived privilege garnered from a democracy designed to be divisive based on race, money, social class. The few have always made the many miserable, it's a pretty sad situation though that some of those "many" keep voting for those who can and will make their lives miserable. I just can't understand that type of hate and stupidity.

[Skidmore]

16. The election of a black man as President has been used

by the right wing to build their base of racists, and along with that they gave permission to racist language and behavior to come to the forefront. Pushback needs to occur on all fronts--politicians, media, and even your next door neighbor We will not tolerate racism. Period.

[love_katz]

17. ^^^^This!^^^^ + a gazillion!

I couldn't say it any better.

[pampango]

12. 'We are a nation built on violence without consequence, theft without punishment,

do unto others as they have done and will do to you. IOW, we are a republican nation. So go out there and get you some.'

Surely nothing bad could come from that.

That's why I'm voting for an anonymous DU poster for president next time. They tell it like it is, consequences be damned.

[Mr Dixon]

9. Immortal Technique:Rich Man's World (1%) Lyrics

You know my C.E.O. Masonic steez, cheese
Only little people pay all these taxes and fees
Since you were born we controlled what you watch and you read
And pretty soon were gonna, own the fuckin' air that you breathe

I take what I want, fucker, I don't have to say please
I'll convince you that it's good for you, take it and leave
You think Presidents are the face of a nation
I put 'em all where they are, end of the conversation

[grasswire]

11. I don't think it hurt him to say those words.

I think he really believes the claptrap. He is of the establishment.

I had the same reaction to this the last time he said those words, recently.

There is no equal justice under the law.

[stupidicus]

15. well, in fairness, it was an accurate statement

it's no small wonder given what those laws were, that the black man/woman/child has gone from what, 2/3 of a man to practically valueless in the eyes of too many.

He needs to own up to the fact that his exercising of prosecutorial discretion in the case of the war criminals and criminal bankers will and has only further entrenched the notion and real world consequences of unequal justice -- the even uglier cousin of wealth/income inequality. Add in the death and carnage of illegal/immoral wars, and it's no small wonder that so many with a gun wanna piece of the "justice" pie.

Did he say anything about "leading by example"?

[belzabubba333]

18. oh potus oh dear. "We are a nation built on the rule of law"

just ask the real americans about rule of law -

[jillan]

20. I am one of those Obama-bots (I guess that's my label) & I have to say last nite

was not one of his finer moments.

I thought he looked weak, defeated and out of touch.
His words did nothing to inspire or heal.

Maybe it was the split screen? Hard to say, but it was the first time I found myself thinking "shut up already".

[peace13]

24. He looked tired for sure.

When he started to answer the question and began to ramble I questioned why he would go off script in this situation. But opening with that same old line ....my reaction was much like yours.

I can't imagine dealing with a rouge Secret Service and fearing for the safety of my family. The man has a full plate for sure.

[Fred Sanders]

21. The President is 100% correct. Only fascists would abandon the rule of law in difficult times.

Abandon what the country was built on and you let them win.

[Orrex]

23. Surely this is the best of all possible worlds.

[arthritisR_US]

22. Good OP. the rule of law is extremely selective. nt

[maced666]

25. I thought it was a great speech. But he doesn't do bad speeches.

Strong point - one of many - he OWNS.

[Flying Squirrel]

26. Way to draw out a lurker. I haven't even rec'd anything in months and months.

But I still read every day.

[Drunken Irishman]

27. White people lecturing the black president on how to talk to black people.

[peace13]

29. So sorry.

I worked my #%^ off to help get this man elected. I expect to be be included when he addresses this country. Your point is interesting. Pretty sure that the black people you think he was talking to know that the rule of law is a joke. I expect the President to address the nation when something as horrific as this happens.

[Leopolds Ghost]

28. Isn't this the DOJ that said major crimes by corporations are "violations of the law, not offenses"?

OK so Holder has apparently a good civil rights record (but no victories to show for it) --

How is his blatant double standard on "non-prosecutable corporate crime" rule of law?

[Odin2005]

31. We are under the rule of Capitalist Law for Capitalist pigs.

[Enthusiast]

32. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!